Cordova’s Tyler Harris (right) blocks a layup by Bolton’s Bryce Good’s on a fast break during the Wolves’ 70-63 overtime win Tuesday in the District 14-AAA championship game at Bartlett.(Photo: Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

When asked Wednesday if he was done recruiting for 2018, Cyclones head coach Steve Prohm simply said: "Today we are."

"(Harris) still priority A (for Iowa State)," Rivals national analyst Corey Evans told the Register. "I think the Memphis faithful are trying to downplay it and say that (Iowa State is) out of scholarships and whatnot, but Tyler’s still priority A, B and C. They want a point guard."

But this could play out past the season, too.

"Frankly, Tyler Harris’ recruitment is a bit of a mystery right now," Rivals national analyst Eric Bossi said.

Multiple attempts to reach Harris and his high school and AAU coaches were unsuccessful.

Cordova High's Tyler Harris, center, shoots against the defense of Arlington's Ray Price, left, and Garrett Golday, right, during their game at Arlington High School on Jan. 10, 2017.(Photo: Nikki Boertman/The Commercial Appeal)

So … what’s the deal?

The mystery comes thanks to Tubby Smith and the Memphis Tigers, who shifted gears in late September to make Harris a top priority.

Memphis was the first school to call the prolific 5-foot-10 scorer in June 2016, when programs were initially allowed to contact 2018 prospects. It offered soon after, but interest wavered when it began focusing on Alex Lomax, a fellow four-star 2018 point guard from Memphis.

Now, Ole Miss and Wichita State have become the favorites for Lomax, and Smith is pulling out all the stops to land Harris. Or, in other words: He’s doing everything to not swing and miss on two local, high-end points guards. (According to his No. 67 Rivals ranking, Harris would be Smith’s top-rated recruit since he landed Royce White at Minnesota in 2009. White later transferred to Iowa State, of course.)

Smith and assistant coach Joe Esposito had an in-home visit with Harris on Sept. 27 (two weeks after Prohm visited). The following week, Harris took an official visit to Memphis — a full month after his back-to-back officials to Iowa State and Colorado State. He also attended the Tigers' "Memphis Madness" on Oct. 12.

"I’d be concerned at the fact that he hasn’t yet committed," Memphis Commercial Appeal reporter Mark Giannotto said in the Oct. 17 episode of his Tiger Basketball Podcast. "I don’t know what else he really needs to see or hear from from Memphis, so the fact that he hasn’t committed should be a concern."

Does this mean Iowa State is the favorite?

Not necessarily.

Colorado State has faded from the picture a bit. But, as with Memphis, Harris has likely heard everything he needs to from the Cyclones, and he hasn’t committed to them yet, either. Plus, Tennessee offered in August and is considered a contender.

Clearly, though, Memphis has left an impression over the past month and a half.

Here’s what Harris’ high school coach, Terrance Scales, told 247Sports a few days before Smith’s in-home visit with Harris:

"If I had to put money on it, I would say right now Iowa State and Colorado State are definitely way out in front of everybody else. Everybody else will be playing catch up to those two."

"I really like Coach Smith, and we asked him a lot of questions and he was straight-up with every question. He didn’t beat around the bush or pull our leg or whatever. … Those guys were being truly genuine as to the steps they had to take when everything went crazy with the team last year as far as the transfers. 'We had to re-calibrate a little bit. We had to get a team for this season,' and once they got that situated, they could focus on the 2018, 2019 kids."

Memphis also might have an edge over Iowa State because it has two open 2018 slots. Even though oversigning is a regular part of recruiting now, there’s something to be said for a guaranteed scholarship as a freshman.

Why do the Cyclones want Harris?

Because he’s a four-star prospect and Rivals’ No. 67 player for good reason.

"He’s one of those sub-6-foot guys who has the attitude of a 7-foot, 260-pound monster. He’s not scared of anybody," Bossi said of Harris, who’s Tennessee’s No. 2 2018 prospect, according to 247Sports.

Tyler Harris, Cordova(Photo: Submitted photo)

More often than not, Harris is the quickest and toughest guy on the floor. He dominated the Under Armour summer circuit with Team Thad, finishing in the top 10 with more than 30 points per game. He ranked second in assists and led the circuit in made 3-pointers. He was also invited to the prestigious NBPA Top 100 Camp (along with Hawkeye recruit Patrick McCaffery) in July.

"He’s kind of brash and slashy and in-your-face on the court, but the dude wins and his teammates play hard for him — because he plays hard," Bossi said. "He’s a proven winner at both the high school and summer level.

"He’s just kind of got that me-against-the-world attitude whenever he’s on the floor."

The fit, specifically with Iowa State, is also enticing. Small-ball wins today. And a backcourt consisting of Harris, Haliburton and Lindell Wigginton (who’s probably better as a shooting guard right now) looks, on paper, like some pretty dang intriguing small ball.

"Eventually, down the road, you can probably even play all three of those guys at the same time," Bossi said. "With those guys, you could conceivably play fast, you could play small and you could play high-pressure. They’re all guys who put the ball in the bucket a little bit. It’s like, 'You get a rebound, kick it to a guard and you go.'"

Matthew Bain covers college football and basketball recruiting for the Des Moines Register. He also helps out with Iowa and Iowa State football and basketball coverage for HawkCentral and Cyclone Insider. Contact him at mbain@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @MatthewBain_.